Adrastos, Film

Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Long Good Friday

Bob Hoskins died yesterday at the age of 71.The first time I remember seeing Hoskins was in the spectacular 1980 gangster film The Long Good Friday. Like Edward G Robinson, Hoskins was a short, stocky man but he filled up the screen in his brauvura performance as Harold Shand.

Here’s the poster:

The Long Good Friday

Here’s the trailer:

Here’s a wildly effective print ad. It makes me want to see the movie again:

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Finally, LGF’s, uh, final scene wherein Harold insults some wise guys and is taken for a ride:

6 thoughts on “Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Long Good Friday”

  1. It might have been 1980, but the trailer reeks of ’70’s exploitation films. Gotta love it.
    Don’t forget it’s also Pierce Brosnan’s first film. Imagine that, James Bond, the Queen, and Owney Madden all in one film!

  2. “Shut up, you long piece of paralyzed piss.”
    Those last couple of minutes, focused on Hoskins’ face as the emotions roll across alternating between anger, betrayal, resignation, gallows humor, bravado, and back and forth is 100% classic cinema. That two minutes of footage will tell you everything you need to know about the actor Bob Hoskins, and he doesn’t say a word.

  3. Bob brought depth to even the most presumably inane roles. First met him in Roger Rabbit and was gobsmacked that such range was being showcased in a kiddie flick. I’ve never been disappointed in his work even when I felt he’d taken a role just to pay the rent (Maid in Manhattan, Garfield 2).
    My current favorite Bob Hoskins’ movie: The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish

  4. He did such a great job of playing both the American tough guy and/or detective that I was shocked to find out he was from overseas.

  6. Don’t forget it’s also Pierce Brosnan’s first film. Imagine that, James Bond, the Queen, and Owney Madden all in one film!
    And if I remember correctly, Pierce Brosnan didn’t have any dialogue. He played a prominent role in two scenes, the ending and the swimming pool scene where he picks up the gay gangster and I don’t think he said a word in either one.
    Despite all the sadistic violence, the most terrifying scene in the movie was Helen Mirren being drive away in the car at the end, screaming that soundless scream.

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